St. Vincent de Paul Village will serve its annual non-resident New Year’s Day meal tomorrow at 11 a.m. at its 1501 Imperial Avenue location.

As many as 3,500 meals will be served to residents and non-residents on Wednesday, a tally that will grow to more than one million by the end of 2003.

"New Year’s Day marks a new beginning for our clients and the organization," says Village President, Father Joe Carroll. "Our meal service allows us to reach a large number of our less fortunate neighbors and, for many, those meals are an introduction to the other services we offer."

The first meal of 2003 will include roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy and pie. The New Year’s Day menu is not unlike offerings the other 364 days of the year, says Father Joe.

"Restoring our clients dignity and respect begins with a good meal," Father Joe says. "That simple show of respect – serving them a quality, home-cooked meal instead of slop – begins a change of attitude in our clients where they begin to recognize they have an opportunity to recapture the dignity and respect lost to life on the streets – it all begins with a meal."